A GRIEF stricken man who drove dangerously after hearing two family members had died is awaiting sentence.Dyar Hassan, 23, received a telephone call at a petrol station to tell him his mother and sister had been killed in Iraq, a court heard.

A GRIEF stricken man who drove dangerously after hearing two family members had died is awaiting sentence.

Dyar Hassan, 23, received a telephone call at a petrol station to tell him his mother and sister had been killed in Iraq, a court heard.

Members of the public alerted police after spotting a vehicle being driven slowly and erratically in the Woodbridge Road area.

Tearful Hassan drove through red traffic lights, hit the kerb several times and crossed a pedestrian crossing while people were on it.

He appeared before South East Suffolk Magistrates in Ipswich where he admitted dangerous driving, failing to stop, resisting a police officer and assaulting a police officer on July 6.

He also admitted driving without insurance and without a licence.

Prosecutor Godfried Duah said witnesses contacted police after seeing Hassan driving at 10 – 15 miles an hour from Woodbridge Road into Warwick Road, Ipswich, where he kept hitting the kerb.

"At the bottom of the road Mr Hassan indicated left at the traffic lights which were showing red at the time," said Mr Duah. "But then despite indicating left he turned right, facing oncoming traffic."

He drove along St Helen's Street where he swerved across the road and again kept hitting the kerb. He crossed another red light towards the Odeon before turning into Woodbridge Road.

At this stage Hassan was followed by police. "He drove across the pedestrian crossing when there were people crossing at the time and the lights at that moment were red," said Mr Duah.

Police indicated him to stop but Mr Hassan continued driving in the same manner.

He finally came to a stop outside his home in Stradbroke Road, Ipswich, where he got out of the car.

"His eyes were said to be red and the officers at the time suspected that he may have been under the influence of drugs or drink," said Mr Duah.

"He tried to push past the officers and when they tried to stop him he became agitated."

He tried to push the officers again and struggled violently until they managed to subdue him.

John Hughes, mitigating, said Hassan had been out driving when he received a telephone call telling him his mother and sister had been killed in Iraq the day before.

"He received the news and just wanted to get home," said Mr Hughes. "He had no real recollection. He was in such a distressed state. He had been crying. He was distraught."

Bench chairwoman Vicky Sears ordered reports before sentencing on September 5.